Firearm Storage Device Distribution to Families of Children With Mental Health Complaints

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This study aims to describe the baseline rate of safe firearm storage device use in the homes of pediatric patients with mental health complaints treated in the Emergency Department (ED) and/or inpatient psychiatric unit of an urban tertiary pediatric hospital.

Follow-up data will be collected to ascertain any change(s) in the rate of safe firearm storage device use after patients have been treated for a mental health complaint, which includes standardized recommendations for safe firearm storage practices. This study also involves an intervention to distribute safe firearm storage devices to families of pediatric mental health patients during their hospital visit, and assesses whether safe storage device distribution impacts reported future rate of firearm safety device use.

Condition or disease

Intervention/treatment

Mental Health DisordersSuicide or Selfinflicted Injury by Firearms and Explosives

Firearm injuries are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality for children and teens. Access to firearms has been associated with suicide completion in the pediatric mental health population. Current practice in our pediatric Emergency Department (ED) and inpatient psychiatric unit is to screen all mental health patients for firearm access, and to recommend safe firearm storage practices. However, there is no data on the baseline rate of safe firearm storage device use in the homes of these patients, or on the effectiveness of providing these recommendations during hospitalization.

This study has two phases, a baseline and an intervention. During the baseline phase, the research team will study whether there is an improvement in safe firearm storage device use in the homes of participants 7 or 30 days after safe storage practices are recommended during an ED or inpatient psychiatric visit. During the intervention phase, in addition to the standard recommendation of safe storage practices during the visit, the research team will distribute firearm safety storage devices such as a lock box, trigger lock, and and/or cable lock to families at the time of study enrollment. The investigators will study whether there is an improvement in safe firearm storage device use in the homes of intervention participants after 7 or 30 days compared to the usual care group.

In the first phase of the study, all participants are assigned to an observational baseline group. Once the enrollment milestone is met, the second phase of the study will open. In this phase, participants all receive the intervention of safe firearm storage device distribution. Participants are randomized to either the free device group, or the low cost ($5) device group.

Masking:

Single (Participant)

Masking Description:

Participants are not informed about their group allocation.

Primary Purpose:

Prevention

Official Title:

Impact of Firearm Safety Device Distribution on Firearm Exposure in the Households of Patients With Mental Health Complaints

Participants receive the standard of care recommendations for safe firearm storage device usage In addition, the study intervention is provision of a free safe firearm storage device (lock box, trigger lock and/or cable lock) for firearm storage at the time of enrollment.

Behavioral: Free safe firearm storage device distribution

Participants in the experimental phase of the study receive a safe firearm storage device at the time of study enrollment. They are randomized to receive a free device. Safe firearm storage devices include a California Department of Justice-approved lock box, trigger lock and/or cable lock.

Experimental: Low Cost Device

Participants receive the standard of care recommendations for safe firearm storage device usage. In addition, the study intervention is the provision of a low cost ($5) firearm storage device (lock box, trigger lock and/or cable lock) for firearm storage at the time of enrollment.

Behavioral: Low cost safe firearm storage device

Participants in the experimental phase of the study receive a safe firearm storage device at the time of study enrollment. They are randomized to receive a low cost ($5) device. Safe firearm storage devices include a California Department of Justice-approved lock box, trigger lock and/or cable lock.

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Ages Eligible for Study:

up to 17 Years (Child)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Age 0-17 years, inclusive

Evaluated in the Emergency Department or inpatient psychiatric unit for a primary mental health complaint

Presence of a firearm in household where patient resides at least one day per week and/or will reside for at least one of the 7 days following enrollment

Accompanied by a parent or legal guardian

Parent or legal guardian is proficient in English

Parent or legal guardian is 18 years of age or older

Exclusion Criteria:

Patient is 18 years of age or older

Patient is not evaluated for a mental health complaint in the Emergency Department or inpatient psychiatric unit

The adult participant has previously enrolled in the intervention phase of the study.

Patient is accompanied by a parent/legal guardian who has previously enrolled a different child in the intervention phase of the study

Patient is not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian during their PMBU or ED visit

Parent or legal guardian accompanying patient does not reside and/or does not anticipate residing in the household with patient for any of the 7 days following enrollment and no other adult household member is present to consent Note: Adult household members may only consent to participate in this study if a parent or legal guardian is also present to provide informed consent.

For adult household members only:

Inclusion Criteria:

18 years of age or older

Lives in same household as patient at least one day per week

Has primary or shared responsibility for at least one firearm stored in the household

Proficient in English

Exclusion Criteria:

Resides in household with patient less than one day per week, and/or does not anticipate residing in the household with patient for any of the 7 days following enrollment